Too much good stuff to write about!

I had a wonderful weekend, and it actually began on Friday when I finally (FINALLY!) met my friend, Andrea, blogger of Forever is Tomorrow is Today, for lunch. Cam asked me how it was possible to be friends with someone I have never met, but I have felt such a kinship with Andrea since we began commenting on each other's blogs over three years ago. We are about the same age, were in very similar situations when we were in England, are both from the Atlanta area and we have both moved back to the Atlanta area recently.

I've never met a 'blogger friend' in real life, so I was just a tiny bit nervous, but I really shouldn't have been. Andrea is even better in-person than I imagined. I am so grateful for the friendship she and I share, and I look forward to many more regular visits, in addition to our regular comments and emails.

My only regret from the fabulous lunch? We didn't take a single photo. Not one. Not even of her unbelievably adorable son, Finn, who I have decided must meet my nieces, Ava & Nola. When they are all 25, of course.

Andrea's story is very compelling and she is an excellent writer, so I highly recommend you visit her blog if you haven't already. (her blog updates always show up on my 'Who's Updated Recently?' and she is on my favorite bloggers list - both to the left)

On Friday night, Cam took me to Romano's Macaroni Grill for dinner. Very tasty! I hadn't been there in quite a while.


We were posing at the corner of the table, hence the awkward-looking position of our bodies.

As if Friday wasn't enough, on Saturday Cam took me to see Cirque du Soleil!! (which I crossed off my 109 in 2009 list!) It was a special Christmas present, and we went with another couple, our good friends Allan and Amy.

We started the evening at the wonderful Six Feet Under. I highly recommend you visit this restaurant if you are in the Atlanta area: cool atmosphere, great service, delicious food and fabulous drinks!


I love how I look pregnant in this photo because of the way my left arm is positioned beside my body.


We were really excited about the upcoming show!


Newlyweds. Aren't they really, really, ridiculously good looking?

We went to see Cirque du Soleil's KOOZA show, and I can't recommend going enough. It was INCREDIBLE. The Atlanta run of the show ends on March 1st, so get your tickets soon!


Cam and me in front of the huge tent after the show.


You can't see it very well, but that's Cam, me, Amy and Allan in front of the KOOZA logo.

On Sunday, Allan, Amy and I went to brunch at The Flying Biscuit (soooo good!), Cam joined us after church, we fixed some snacks (well, Cam and I fixed snacks, Amy fixed some homemade chili and Allan grilled some hot dogs), and then we watched the Superbowl with a bunch of friends. Such a great weekend!

2009 looks bright

When 2008 came to a close, I had big plans of wrapping everything I have done this year in a nice, neat package. But as anyone who knows me can attest, I suck at wrapping. So, instead, I will just summarize my 108 in 2008 list.

In 2008, I attempted to do 108 new things, or things I just haven’t done in a really long time. Let's see how I did.

1- Learn to knit (Thank you, Sherrie!)(1/09/08)



2- Hang something on my bedroom wall - a photo, a candle holder, some art, a calendar - something!

It was a calendar. Maybe I need to set my sights higher this year - like a photo frame.

3- Volunteer for a worthy cause


This had to be in addition to English School, because I began volunteering there in 2007. So, during December, I helped out at Clark's Christmas Kids with Clark Howard (from AM 750 WSB). You can see more photos from the event in this post.

4- Sing karaoke


(Me and one of my best friends, Bryan) I did this while playing Rock Band - it counts, right?

5- See a play or ballet performance


Cam took me to see A Christmas Carol at The New American Shakespeare Tavern on Peachtree Street. The show was wonderful! I also had food there for the first time and it was very tasty (and reasonably priced!).

10- Go to an opera I saw a live feed from the New York Metropolitan Opera of La Fille du Régiment. It was wonderful.

11- Try a new game


Rayman Raving Rabbids 2 on Wii - hilariously fun! - and Rock Band!

13- Run a half marathon (10/25/08)


I couldn't believe how accomplished I felt after finishing. And how painful a stress fracture can be.

17- Have a taco night


Cam and I made The Food Network's Turkey Tacos Picadillo one night at his place. They were very spicy and delicious. And see that guacamole? That is one of Cam's specialties. You'll have to ask him for the recipe. And just for fun, here is a photo of Cam (with his cousin, Brandon, in the foreground) fixing the infamous guac.


Handsome and he likes to cook. Or as he puts it, he likes to eat.

18- Read the entire Harry Potter series

I bawled reading the last couple of books. I didn't want it to end. I think the Twilight series might make my 2009 list...

19- Visit a state I have never been to, and not just a drive-through.


I went to Arizona for the first time in my life on a mini-vacation in September.


It is incredibly beautiful, I had a wonderful time and want to go back for another visit. You can read about the entire trip here.

23- Throw a party


I helped plan the annual Christmas party thrown by a political group I am heavily involved in.

25- Go on a trip with my sisters


I went to Florida with my beautiful sisters (L-Steph, R- Barb) to visit some family. You can read about the entire trip here.

26- Take a dance lesson

Kole and I took a very special dance class. If you want more details, you'll have to ask me personally. Or Kole.

32- Go to a concert (7/12/08)


Me and Abbs hanging out while watching 7 Sharp 9 in July. They were great!

36- Create a scrapbook

As Cam pointed out, I have referred to this blog as my online scrapbook.

41- Read Son of a Witch: A Novel by Gregory Maguire

I didn't enjoy this book at all. Boo.

46- Read Middlesex: A Novel by Jeffrey Eugenides

I recommend reading Middlesex. It was very interesting and kept me engaged until the very end.

49- Read The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd

This is one of my new favorite books. I hear the movie is pretty good, too.

50- Read Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire

I LOVED the play when I saw it in London, the book, however, SUCKED.

52- Watch the movie Juno (10/02/08)

Over-hyped, but good.

55- Watch Stardust

I really enjoyed this film, but I'm a huge fantasy & science fiction fan.

56- Re-watch the entire British version of The Office, including the two Christmas specials

And I'd do it again in a heartbeat. You think Pam and Jim are cute in the American version, just wait until you see Dawn and Tim in the UK version. *sigh*

57- Try a new restaurant in Marietta

It was Wild Wing Cafe - VERY tasty wings!

58- Try a new restaurant in Atlanta

Cam took me to La Tavola Trattoria Restaurant in Atlanta. It was absolutely wonderful. I wish we had taken photos!

60- Run three miles without stopping

Please see half-marathon information above, and I ran a lot of miles while training for that half-marathon. :)

64- Have a facial

And it made me melt.

66- Participate in a Texas hold ‘em tournament

I didn't win, but it sure was fun!

68- Go to a comedy club(April 13, 2008)


My friend, Travis, being, erm, friendly with the comedian, Nick Guerra (who I highly recommend seeing, if you get the chance).

I LOVE live comedy and frequent the local clubs. I highly recommend you visit The Funny Farm and The Punchline to see great comedy in Atlanta.

70- Go to the Atlanta Shakespeare Tavern

Please see #5 above.

73- Try a new haircut


Do you remember this post?

I decided on long layers, with side-sweep bangs:


Me showing my hair to Coach Bill Curry.

79- Buy a new dress & 80- And matching shoes

I did, but I don't actually have a photo with me in the outfit. New Year's resolution: Take more photos.

83- Eat breakfast for dinner

This actually happens all the time. In fact, we had breakfast for dinner with Cam's family last night that consisted of country ham, crispy bacon, scrambled eggs, biscuits and grits. Man, now I'm hungry!

85- Try a new fru-fru drink [a.k.a. fruity alcoholic beverage]


I had lots of new fru-fru drinks this year, including a peach martini (YUM!) on New Year's Eve, but I don't take a photo of any of them. Though I did have a new drink the night the above photo was taken. And I just wanted to post it again.

87- Have a girls’ night


I have one pretty much every Wednesday.

90- Help someone find a job

I helped a couple of my friends unsuccessfully try to find jobs. Maybe this year they will be successful in finding them!

91- Watch home movies with my family


For some reason, my sister loves to show off the angel above. I've seen her a number of times on the TV at my parents' house.

92- Cook with my mom

We made French toast together - yum!

96- Pay off my student loans (3/14/08)


The idea of debt scares me, so I was so happy to pay this off before it went into payments.

100- Be at the hospital when Steph’s baby is born


Ava Gabrielle stole my heart the moment I touched her.

101- Be at the hospital when Barb’s baby is born


Nola Ashlyn is my sweet little angel. I couldn't love my nieces more if I tried.

102- Make a key lime pie


Key lime pie is my absolute favorite dessert. And this was the EASIEST recipe to make. And honestly, not to toot my own horn, but it was the best damn key lime pie I've ever had. I like to think that Cam agreed.

Groceries needed:
9-inch graham cracker pie crust (Deep-dish if you can find it)
Four eggs (you will just use the yolks)
2 (14-ounce) cans condensed milk
1 cup of key lime juice (you could probably use regular lime juice, but the key lime is what made the flavor for me! We found ours at the local Harry's Farmers Market)
Sour cream
Powdered sugar
One lime for zesting (optional)

Directions
Pre-heat the oven to 325 degrees F. Combine the condensed milk, key lime juice and egg yolks. Whisk until well blended and place the filling in the pie shell. We had so much mixture left over that we put them in tiny bunt cakes (please see photo above) and sampled them later that night after cooking the little bunts with the big pie and then chilling the little bunts for a short time - yummy sampler!) Bake for 30-35 minutes and then chill in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours.

Once chilled, combine about a cup of sour cream to three+ tablespoons powdered sugar (do it to your taste) and use to dollop on the top. Some people spread the topping over the whole thing before serving, but I like to give people the option, though I personally love the sour cream/powdered sugar mixture. Cuts the tartness of the pie. Then sprinkle lime zest as a garnish on top of the sour cream and serve chilled.

What I won't post is the video that Cam took unbeknownst to me while I whisked the key lime pie mixture. Let's just say I look like a hula dancer from behind.

107- Try a different dish at my favorite restaurants (at Murphy’s Deli, La Parilla and Outback)

Well, two out of three isn't bad. Cam, you want to go to Outback this year?

108- Finish a knitting project


My friend, Sherrie, holding the dishcloth I knitted for her.

And it is usually during these 'wrap-ups' that people talk about how thankful they are for everything in their life. And I'm not going to break that tradition. Because I am incredibly thankful.

I'm thankful for my sisters, their husbands and my incredible nieces.

A Christmas photo we had done for our parents.

I'm thankful for my parents.


At Steph's wedding rehearsal.

I'm thankful for my friends.


Some friends on New Year's Eve.

So many things happened in 2008 that weren't on the to-do list. Well, at least they weren't on my list. Items like having two nieces and falling in love. But those are the best things in my life. And I'm so glad I can add them to my life list.


Ringing in the New Year. Properly.

Happy New Year, everyone. May be it filled with as much love and hope as I feel at the moment. Which is a lot.

We fry everything in the South and Rock Band

So, yesterday, my best guy friend from high school, Bryan (hello, Bryan!), and I went to OK Cafe for lunch (tasty, but overpriced). And instead of taking a photo of us, I had Bryan take a photo of the menu. Because I wanted everyone to see the first appetizer.



Can you read that? Yep. Fried cheese grits with jalapeños AND cheese dip. Only in the South my friends.

And then Bryan sent along this photo from a fairly recent party, where I was, um, rocking out at Rock Band. And apparently I wear that white shirt a lot.


I love the expression on Ryan's (Bryan's twin brother) face in the background.

**All photos taken with Bryan's iPhone.

Vindication is mine!

Last night my pregger, older sister called me while I was teaching at English School, and since I am on baby watch 2008 I freaked out because she knows I teach every Tuesday night, and why would she call in the middle of class unless she was popping my niece out, right? So, I listened to her voicemail right away expecting to hear the words - 'Nicole, the baby is coming! And she needs to have her aunt here right away. And have I mentioned how fabulous you look? We hope our baby girl will look just like you.'

OK, so maybe Steph's call to tell me she is going into labor won't sound exactly like that, but I think it should (hint, hint, Steph). But I am majorly digressing.

So, Steph's message goes something like this, "So, I can't remember exactly what you are doing tonight [um, Steph, we talk almost every Tuesday night on my way to English School. It's OK. You're pregnant], is it knit night? [um, no, but good guess.] Anyways, I just wanted to let you know that [Ah-ha! the baby is coming, yes?] we were driving past the Taco Bell on Duluth Highway [oh?], and I guess they heard that you were angry, and well, it has been torn down."

What? Is it possible? The crappiness that was the Taco Bell at 685 Duluth Highway is gone?? If you have no idea what this is about, or even if you do, please go read (or re-read) the Taco Bell Incident of 2007. Go ahead. I'll wait.

Done? OK.

So, now that you are refreshed on why I was highly annoyed at the Taco Bell on 685 Duluth Highway, you will totally forgive me as I laugh manically and shout, 'Vindication is mine!!' from the rooftops. OK. Maybe that is overstating. And I do feel for the customer animals that lost their jobs. But this calls for a celebration.

Tacos anyone? I know this great place...